NBA Predictions 2016-17: Season Analysis, Outlook & Preview

Connor Hazelton

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The NBA returns next week, and unlike the other major sports leagues, there usually aren’t too many surprises; by that I mean the favorites are usually going to end up in the championship, while all of the crappy teams end up in the lottery missing on their draft picks. So my predictions should be similar, if not identical to all the other experts out there.

The Cleveland Cavaliers start the season off as reigning champs, thus ending the whole “God Hates Cleveland” thing, though they still have the Browns. Lebron James and company should have a pretty easy path to the Finals, as they are clearly the top dog in the East, where everyone expects them to face the Warriors for a third straight season, who made a pretty big splash during the offseason.

Eastern Conference

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I really don’t think there is much to talk about with the East because there just isn’t anyone that will beat the Cavs come playoff time. Sure they may not get the top seed in the East, but I don’t think that matters to them, they’re just trying to keep everyone healthy until the playoffs. If anything, maybe the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, or Toronto Raptors could give them a little bit of a run, but even then, none of those teams could compete with them in a seven game series. It stinks because my New York Knicks, who made some moves of their own in the offseason, could maybe get into the playoffs, but at best they’d maybe get to the second round and I feel pretty foolish for even thinking that. I hate Lebron, but it’s his world and we’re all just living in it. As a fan of the game I want to see teams be competitive, but unless a major injury to Lebron or Kyrie Irving occurs, might as well pencil in the Cavs to make it to the Finals for a third straight season.

Eastern Conference Playoff Teams:

Cleveland Cavaliers

Boston Celtics

Toronto Raptors

Indiana Pacers

Detroit Pistons

Atlanta Hawks

New York Knicks

Washington Wizards

East Champions: Cavaliers

Western Conference

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Much like the East, the West really shouldn’t be too shocking because the Golden State Warriors should win it, as they just added Kevin Durant to their team who just won 73 games this past season (but blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals lol). To be honest, I was pretty pissed that Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder because I think they would have had a team that could have beaten Golden State, and I loved watching him and Westbrook on the same team. I still think that the Thunder will be a pretty formidable team that should make the playoffs this year, but they could have been something special if Durant came back. The San Antonio Spurs will quietly win their 50 + games, the Los Angeles Clippers will make the playoffs but choke in the first or second round like they do every year, and the Sacramento Kings will continue to suck. I am actually intrigued by the Portland Trailblazers because while I don’t think they can win the West, I think they may be a sleeper team to make the conference finals.

Western Conference Playoff Teams:

Golden State Warriors

San Antonio Spurs

Los Angeles Clippers

Portland Trailblazers

Oklahoma City Thunder

Minnesota Timberwolves

Houston Rockets

Dallas Mavericks

West Champions: Warriors

It’s awesome that we probably get to see the Cavs and Warriors for a third straight year because I think it will be an awesome series. At the same time, you like to see some new faces in the Finals, especially with an upset here and there. Unfortunately, that’s not how the NBA is.